Night School: Resistance (Night School 4)

‘Well, good luck, you lot.’ Lucas’ earlier jovial mood had evaporated. He looked around the group sombrely. ‘Kick some Nathaniel arse. Watch your backs.’


The boys shook hands and pounded each other’s shoulders. Lucas paused to whisper something to Rachel. When he walked back into the school building, Allie saw her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

Rachel cleared her throat. ‘Look … you all have to stay safe, OK?’ She looked around the group, her eyes pleading. ‘Just say yes.’

‘Yes.’ Nicole pulled her into a quick, fierce hug. Allie followed suit.

‘Be careful,’ Rachel whispered before letting her go. And Allie fought a sudden urge to cry.

‘You, too,’ she said.

‘Rachel.’ Dom strode past. ‘Let’s go.’

Her tone was business-like but, as she passed, the American caught Allie’s eye and gave her a nod that seemed to say without any words, ‘You can do this.’

Coming from Dom – so cool and capable – it meant a great deal.

I can do this.

After a final wave, Rachel followed her, and the two disappeared into one of the Rovers. Now only Allie, Carter, Zoe and Nicole stood on the steps.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

Then, lowering his head, Carter caught Allie’s gaze. ‘We should go.’

‘I know …’ But she was reluctant to leave. She turned to Zoe and Nicole.

‘Look. Be careful, OK? Don’t do anything crazy. I’m so glad you’re going to be there ….’

Nicole’s answering smile was filled with understanding and affection, but Zoe, who had endured the earlier goodbyes with barely contained irritation, stared at her as if she’d gone mad.

‘Of course we’ll be there. Where else would we be?’

Allie’s lips twitched. She tugged at Zoe’s ponytail. ‘Just … go, OK? I’ll see you when this is over.’

At that, Zoe zipped away towards their assigned car, not hiding her relief at escaping the emotional scene.

Nicole hugged Allie quickly. ‘I’ll keep an eye on her,’ she promised. ‘She’s only scouting. She’ll be safe.’

‘I know.’ Allie forced a smile. ‘Take care of yourself, too.’

‘And you.’

After giving Carter a hug, Nicole ran after Zoe. Then Allie and Carter were alone on the wide front steps.

It was time.

With a shuddering sigh, Allie raised her gaze to his. ‘Ready?’ ‘I guess so,’ Carter said, but still they didn’t move.

His gaze swept across her face. ‘Look at us,’ he said, a wry smile making his dark eyes twinkle. ‘The dynamic duo. Together again.’

Her responding smile was tremulous but her voice was steady. ‘Allie and Carter save the world.’

There was so much she wanted to tell him. So much to decide. But the weight of the moment was too heavy. There was too much at stake right now.

This wasn’t the time for anything except fighting.

She raised her eyes to his. ‘Let’s go.’



The drive to London passed in tense silence.

Allie and Carter sat in the back seat, looking out of their respective windows. Two guards sat in the front. Raj’s voice crackled occasionally from a radio. He was in the lead car, about a mile ahead.

The cars were to take different routes. Dom and Rachel were following their progress through the trackers, making sure none of the vehicles got clustered together and that everyone followed their assigned course.

As the evening light faded, they passed mostly farmland. Pastures were dotted with pale sheep, recently sheared and relishing their new nudity. In the distance, church steeples thrust up at the darkening sky like stone daggers. Sometimes, for fleeting moments, grand, Victorian mansions, not unlike Cimmeria, could be seen peeking out through faraway trees.

The last of the light had disappeared from the sky by the time they entered the bustling fringe of London, where torturously twisted streets made the metropolis a gigantic vehicular labyrinth. But the driver seemed confident as he took first one slow road then another.

Allie, who had grown up in the city, traced their route through the tube and train stations they passed. Richmond, Chiswick, Acton, Shepherd’s Bush … Seeing the names again was like running unexpectedly into old friends.

Next to her, Carter stared out of the window in a kind of fascinated wonder. Allie was reminded that he’d grown up in the country.

‘Have you ever been to London before?’ she asked, and he glanced over at her.

‘A long time ago, to go to museums,’ he said. ‘I’d forgotten how crowded it is.’

The car stopped at a red light and a stream of people hurried across the road, women in business suits and sensible low heels, or in tiny skirts and teetering on stilettos. Men with headphones on, never looking up.